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How the Y Chromosome Could Become Obsolete

by Nicole Stevens on November 26, 2013

Nicole Stevens

About the Author

Nicole Stevens is a 30-something mom of four adorable kids. Her passions include spending time with her babies and doing research in the laboratory. She also enjoys crafts, photography, crochet, reading, and long walks. Her work has appeared elsewhere on WhattoExpect.com.

About the Blog

WhatToExpect.com supports Word of Mom as a place to share stories and highlight the many perspectives and experiences of pregnancy and parenting. However, the opinions expressed in this section are those of individual writers and do not reflect the views of Heidi Murkoff of the What to Expect brand.

One group of scientists recently performed startling experiments showing that in mice, reproduction is still possible even if most of the DNA in Y chromosomes is deleted. Experts still aren't sure what this might mean for infertility in human males.

Is the Y chromosome, the epitome of all things male, becoming unnecessary? Scientists in Hawaii set out to investigate that startling question, according to the BBC.

All chromosomes are bundles of DNA, tightly coiled up for easy transport. Kinda like a spool of thread. When an organism is ready to grow, the DNA is unwound and the instructions are translated into new cells.

Most mammals, including humans, have a pair of chromosomes that plays into sexual development. Two X chromosomes (one each from mom and dad) usually makes you a girl. An X from mom and a Y from dad will produce a boy. But the X chromosome already dwarfs the Y in size. Just how much of that little Y unit do we need to actually produce a functioning male being?

The researchers produced a genetically modified strain of mice that contained only two genes out of the Y bundle, while the other 12 genes were discarded. So, imagine cutting two snippets of thread from the entire spool.

Now, it may be hard to imagine two bits of thread being able to do the job of a full spool, but that's exactly what the researchers discovered. Mice who got chopped-up versions of the Y chromosomes still developed into males. Granted, they weren't able to reproduce on their own, but with a little IVF help from the researchers, the daddy mice contributed to perfectly healthy offspring.

From this experiment, researchers concluded that much of the Y chromosomal DNA in mice may be responsible for producing healthy sperm. The modified mice couldn't make normal sperm, but it was still enough for making babies under the right circumstances.

The bottom line? It's an interesting study in mice. And NOT directly translatable into human sexuality.

For one thing, human Y chromosomes are more complex. For another thing, there's the ethical implication. The researchers note that while "it may be possible to eliminate the Y" altogether if our DNA has other genes that can compensate, it's not something our society is likely to try. A world without men would be "crazy" and "science fiction," study authors affirm.

But still, it's an intriguing research question. Science fiction authors by the dozens have created dystopian societies populated by genderless citizens. Or taken us into the future, where mankind has overcome sexual discrimination and grown into hermaphrodites. Neither of those possibilities sounds very fun to me.

Professor Monika Ward, lead researcher on the study, concluded that "on a practical level, [the study] shows that after large deletions of the Y chromosome it is still possible to reproduce, which potentially gives hope to men with these large deletions." So, no worries. Sounds like scientists aren't planning to delete Y chromosomes from humanity anytime soon. I think we'd miss them.

What do you think of this research? Do scientists go too far in tinkering with sexual reproduction? Share thoughts below.